Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“I don’t think that.” She stepped in front of him so he’d have to look
at her. “I get why you don’t want to live with him.”
“But?” he added, and the question had a definite snap. “Go on. We
both know there’s more to that sentence.”
Sophie stared at the sky, watching the sun sink behind the flattopped
mountains like a pat of melting butter. “I know you hate what
he did—”
“No, I hate him. And I hate my parents for falling for his ‘I’m a
changed elf’ act.”
“I don’t think they’ve fallen for anything,” Sophie said gently.
“Yes they have. First thing my dad did after he found out Alvar was
with the Neverseen was make sure Alvar couldn’t get inside Everglen
again. He blocked him from the gates—and changed the locks on the
door to his office, just in case—and he told Grizel to use lethal force
against him if she needed to. And now he’s letting him move back in?”
“I think your parents just . . . want to believe. He’s their son, you
know?”
“Yeah, well, so am I. And while they’re busy trying to get back their
perfect happy family, they’re putting all of us in danger.”
“Then why not stay at Everglen to make sure nothing happens?”
Sophie asked.
“Because he’s a Vanisher. He can sneak around as much as he
wants.”
“Not with that gadget Dex made him—”
“Let’s not talk about what Dex did,” Fitz warned, stepping around
her to fling his throwing star—and missing the target completely.
Grizel snorted. “You know what that means, Pretty Boy: fifty dead
drops to work off your temper!”